Side guide register for sheet feeders



May 31, 1960 H. E. PAULSON 2,938,723

SIDE GUIDE REGISTER FOR SHEET FEEDERS Filed July 17, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet1 I /7 a L INVENTOR flare/0 f Pau/san BY Mag ATTORNEY May 31, 1960 H. E.PAULSON 2,938,723

SIDE GUIDE REGISTER FOR SHEET FEEDERS Filed July 17, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTOR Harv/0 A. Paw/$011 ATTORNEY May 31, 1960 H. E. PAULSON$938,723

SIDE GUIDE REGISTER FOR SHEET FEEDERS Filed July 17, 1958' 3Sheets-Sheet 3 v! 73 qg/77 2f 7E7 ,\\-'=a\\ m\\ \w 9 I (5 W Eg 25 nhllchi INVENTOR United States Patent SIDE GUIDE REGISTER FGR SHEET FEEDERSHarold E. Paulson, 842 W. Nebraska, St. Paul, Minn.

Filed July 17, 1958, Ser. No. 749,251

14 Claims. (Cl. 271-49) This invention relates to an improvement in sideguide register for sheet feeders and deals particularly with a sheetregistering device which provides an extremely accurate guide for sheetsbeing fed into an ofiset printing press and the like.

Considerable difficulty is experienced in providing an accurateadjustment for sheets being fed by movable belt into an offset printingpress. In many presses of this type, one edge of the sheet is registeredby means of a device commonly known as a jogger. This device includes anadjustable collar movable transversely of the feed table and supportinga pair of threaded adjustment nuts which support a light curved spring.This curved spring is designed to engage against an edge of the sheet toform a side guide. Considerable difficulty is often experienced inproperly registering the sheets by means of this single light spring.This is particularly true when it is understood that sheets of variousthicknesses may be printed on the presses. An extremely fine adjustmentis required if the device is to properly register both sheets of thethickness and strength of tissue and other sheets which are ofsubstantial thickness and strength. Usually, the belts and guide springsoverlying the belt must be very carefully positioned if the sheets areto be accurately registered.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a pair ofguides between which the sheets are fed to provide an extremely accurateregister thereof. The registering means includes normally one side guidewhich actually provides the register and incorporates a light springwhich is retractable to the side edge of the guide. This side guide ismounted upon the adjustment nut which normally supports the joggerspring and replaces this spring. The other side guide comprises asomewhat similar structure which is fixed in adjusted position undernormal conditions but which in itself is laterally adjustable to providea fine adjustment.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a pair ofside guides which are so constructed that the guide actually used as theside register may be positioned for engagement with either side of thesheet. By merely interchanging the supporting means for the side guides,the adjustable registering guide may be arranged to contact either edgeof the sheet. A further feature of the present invention resides in theprovision of a pair of side guides which are normally supported inparallel relation but which are adjustable so that one guide may beangularly related relative to the other for use in the feeding of sheetsof odd sizes and shapes.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of apair of accurate side guides which may be used to replace the joggerspring normally used for the side register of the sheets withoutchanging or modifying the feeder. The side guides are also constructedin such a manner as to be applicable to numerous models of ofisetpresses of the type described.

\7 A further feature of the, present invention resides in 2,938,723Patented May 31, 196 0 the provision of a side guide having a horizontalflange designed to extend beneath one of the feed belts and which isadjustable in elevation so as to raise or lower the horizontal flange ofthe side guide as Well as the remainder thereof.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of apair of side guides including a body portion including a horizontalflange and a vertical flange arranged in right angular relation so thatthe horizontal flange may extend beneath a feed belt and the verticalflange may extend alongside of the feed belt.- A spring is mountedintermediate the ends of the vertical flange and is designed to extendagainst the edge ofthe sheet with an extremely light pressure. Thespring is rectractable into the vertical flange so as to guide thesheet: along the surface of the vertical flange while applying a lightpressure to the sheet. 7

An additional feature of the present invention resides in the provisionof a supporting member which is supported parallel to the direction ofmovement of the sheets and which is adjustable laterally thereof. Theangular body of the guide is connected to the supporting member by apair of longitudinally spaced adjustment screws which permit the angleof the guide body to be adjusted into or out of parallel relation withthe support.

Another feature of the present invention resides in the provision of aneccentric mounted at oneend of: the guide body at the end thereofopposite the registering'side guide. By rotating the eccentric, theelevationof the guide body may be varied.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of aside guide having a portion of the body thereof cut away to provide aspring aperture through which a portion of the feed table may be seen.As the feed table is provided with laterally spaced gauge marks, anaccurate alignment of the body of the guide relative to the gauge marksmay be obtained by looking through this cut away portion of the guide.

Still another feature of the present invention resides in the provisionof a web foot used in conjunction with the side guide and which includesa ball or marble extend! ing partially through a curved plate. A springis provided overlying the pressure ball, the spring being suffi cientlyductile to be bent to provide added pressure upon the ball while stillbeing resilient within the limits of normal operation.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the fact thatwhile both side guides include similar parts and each includes a spring,the spring of the normally stationary side guide may be bent out ofoperative position when not being used for register. present inventionwill be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specificationand claims:

These and other objects and novel features of the In the drawingsforming a part of the specification:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of a feed table showing a series of feedbelts, and a pair of transversely ex tending supporting rods extendingover the table from which the side guides, the web feet, and thepressure springs may be supported.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the registering side guide removedfrom the press.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the side guide shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the side guide shown in Figures 2and 3 and showing the manner in which this registering guide isadjustably supported.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view through the adjustment means forproviding lateral adjustment of the registering guide.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the normally stationary side guide.

' Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the side guide shown in Figure6.

Figure 8 is a sectional view through the elevation adjustment, theposition of the section being indicated by the line'8-.8 of Figure 7.' 7a Figure 9 is an end elevational view of the side guide shown in Figures6 and 7, a portion of the guide being broken away to disclose theconstruction thereof. 7

Figure 10 is a plan view of a portion of the feed table in enlargedform, showing the indicating marks used in positioning the guides.

Figure 11 is a side elevational view of a web showing .the constructionthereof.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the web foot shown inFigure 11.

Figures. 1 and 10 of the drawings diagrammatically illustrate a feedtable 10 having a series .of laterally spaced conveyor belts 11, 12,,-13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 extending thereover. It will be understoodthatthese belts are -mounted upon spaced parallel pulleys, the upperportions of the belts moving in unison to carry the sheets to the press.The conveyor belts are moving in the direction of the arrow 19 as viewedin Figures 1 and 10.

p A pair of supporting bars 20 and 21 are supported by the frame of thepress, not illustrated in the drawings, to extend transversely of thedirection of movement of the conveyor belts. The bar or rod 20 supportsthe adjustment mechanism 22 for one side guide. This adjustmentmechanism may be best seen in Figures 4 and of the drawings. 7

* 'With particular reference to Figure 5, the adjustment mechanism 22includes a collar 23 axially slidable on the rod 20 and held in adjustedrelation thereto by a thumb screw 24. The collar 23 is provided with anintegral externally threaded sleeve 25 also encircling the rod 20. A nut26 having an external peripheral groove 27 acts to support theregistering guide. Alternatively, the support may include two nuts 26which engage on opposite sides of the side guide support to hold it inan adjusted position.

With reference now to Figures 2 through 5 of the drawings, theregistering guide 29 includes an angular body including a verticalflange 30 and a horizontal flange 31. The vertical flange 30 is providedwith a right angularly turned extremity 32 which supports a bolt 33having a head .34, (Figure 8) a cylindrical body adjoining the head 34and designated by the numeral 35, and an eccentric threaded shank 36.The threaded shank 36 extends through a suitable aperture 37 in theflange extremity 32 and is held in adjusted position by a nut 39. Byloosening the nut 39 and rotating the bolt about its shank 36, thecylindrical portion 35 may be raised and lowered. A sleeve 40 isrotatably supported upon the cylindrical portion 35 and normally bearsagainst the feed table outwardly of the various belts 11 through 17.

Near the center of the vertical flange 30 an aperture 41 is provided ofgenerally rectangular outline extending to the juncture between thevertical flange 30 and the horizontal flange 31. An adjoining aperture42 is provided in the horizontal flange 31 so that a portion of the feedtable is visible therethrough. A spring 43 of the leaf spring type isbolted to the vertical flange 30 as indicated at 44, the bolt head ofthe bolt 44 being above the level of the sheets. The flat spring 43 isof very foot , light weight spring material and exerts a very gentlepressure against the edge of a sheet moving along the vertical flange30. The lower edge of the spring 43 is below the level of the surface ofthe conveyor belt 17 which overlies the horizontal flange 31 andaccordingly is engageable with the edge of a sheet carried by theconveyor belts. As indicated in Figure 10 of the drawings, the belt 17has its outer edge in spaced relation to the vertical flange 30 so asnot to interfere with the operation of the spring 43. j f 7 The outersurface of the vertical flange 30 is provided with a pair of spacedparallel threaded studs 45 and 46 having their axes normal to the planeof the flange 30. A supporting bar 47 is slidably supported upon thestuds 45 and 46, the studs extending through apertures in the bar. Nuts49 and 5% are provided on the studs 45 and 46 respectively and maytighten to decrease the distance between the bar 47 and the flange 30.Springs 51 and secured as indicated at 54 to the bar 47 to extendupwardly therefrom.

This plate 53 is provided with a lateral notch 55 of proper dimensionsto fit in the groove 27 or between the clamping nuts 26 and to partiallyencircle the shank 25 of the collar 23. By adjustment of the nut or nuts26, the lateral position of the bracket plate 53, the supporting bar 47,and the entire side guide 29 may be laterally adjustedr V V 7 Withreference now to Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, it will be noted thatthe normally stationary side guide has many parts which are identicalwith the parts of the side guide 29. The side guide 56 includes anangular body including a vertical flange 57 and a horizontal flange 59which are connected at right angles .and which are opposite or inreversed arrangement to the flanges 30 and 31 of theside guide 29. Thevertical flange 57 is provided with a right angularly turned extremity60 which accommodates an eccentric adjustment 33 identical to thatpreviously described. The vertical flange 57 is provided with agenerally rectangular aperture 61 adjoining the lower edge thereof andthe horizontal flange 59 is provided with a communicating aperture 62through which a portion of the feed table can be viewed. A flat spring63 is bolted or otherwise secured to the vertical flange 57 by means ofthe bolt 64. Fixed studs 65 and 66 are provided on the vertical flange57 to project with their axes normal to the plane of the flange 57. Itis important to note that the spacing between the studs and 66 isidentical to the spacing between the studs 45 and 46. I

An elongated supporting bar 67 is slidably supported upon the studs 65and 66 and clamping nuts 69 and 70 are provided on the studs 65 and 66to move the supporting bar 67 toward the vertical flange 57. Springs 71and 72 are interposed between the vertical flange 57 and the supportingbar 67 to normally urge these ele-, ments apart.

A mounting bracket 73 is attached to the supporting bar 67 by a bolt 74which extends through one of a pairof apertures 75 in the bar 67. Thebracket 73 includes a channel shaped structure including a vertical side76 which is attached to the bar 67, a horizontal connecting member 77,and a downturned flange 79 parallel to the side 76. The sides 76 and 79are provided with aligned apertures 80 extending therethrough designedto accommodate the cross bar 21 on theframe of the press. A thumb screw81 is threaded through the connecting member 77 and engages against therod 21 to hold the mounting bracket 73 and the remainder of the sideinfixed relation-upon this rod. 7 It will be noted that the body of theside guide including the vertical flange 57, the horizontal flange 59,the angularly turned extremity and adjustment member 33, and the spacedstuds 65 and'66 are identical to the corresponding parts of the sideguide 29 but are reversed therefrom. In the particular arrangementillustrated, the fixed guide 56 forms a guide for the left hand side ofthe paper while the side guide 29 forms a means of registering the righthand edge of the paper. Ifiit is desired that the registering 'oradjustable guide be on the left side of the sheet, and the fixed guideon the right, the. thumb nuts 69 and 70 are removed, and the supportingbar 67 and its associated parts are substituted for: the mounting bar 47and associated parts of the guide 29. Thus, either side 'maybe used asthe regis tering side guide.

' With reference now to Figures 11 and 12 of the drawings, the pressureapplying devices which are known as web feet include a pressure shoe 83having upturned ends 84 to guide the paper sheets beneath the shoe. Avertical flange 85 is provided along one edge of the shoe 83 and abracket 86 is attached to the flange 85, the flange 85 extending into anotch 87 in the bracket 86 and held in place therein. The flange 85includes an upwardly projecting ear 89 which extends to the top of theslot 87 and is held in place by a set screw 90. This set screw 90permits vertical adjustmentof the web foot relative to itssupporting'bar which adjustmenthas not been normally available inconnection with devices of this type. A second vertical notch 91 isprovided in the bracket 86 to accommodate a supporting bar 93 which isadjustably connected by a bracket 94 to the rod 21. As the rod 93 andbracket 94 are common on devices of this type, the details are notillustrated.

A spring leaf 95 is secured to the upper surface of the shoe 83 andoverlies a ball or bearing 96 which extends partially through anaperture 97 in the center of the shoe. If the spring 95 is bent upwardlyto some extent, the ball will be held in place merely by the weight ofthe ball itself. The spring 95 is of sufficiently ductile material topermit it to be bent. When pressed downwardly, pressure is applied tothe top of the ball which in turn applies additional pressure downwardlyagainst the sheets.

As is usual in feed devices of this type, elongated spring fingers suchas 99 are provided with clamps 100 at one end thereof which are slidableon a cross bar such as the bar 21. These springs are designed to flexdown against the surface of the conveyor belt to hold the sheets incontact therewith. Certain of such leaf springs 101 may be considerablylonger than others so as to hold the sheets in place over a greaterproportion of the feed table. The springs 101 may be provided withclamps such as 100 and may be secured to a cross member parallel to therod 21 and not shown in the drawings.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof construction and operation of my improvement in side guide registerfor sheet feeders, and while I have endeavored to set forth the bestembodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that changes may bemade within the scope of the following claims without departing from thespirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A sheet guide for use in conjunction with a sheet feeding tablehaving a series of substantially parallel conveyor belts, the deviceincluding a guide body including a generally horizontal flange designedto extend beneath a conveyor belt and a vertical flange connectedthereto and adapted to extend alongside of the conveyor belt, asupporting bar extending in generally parallel relation to said verticalflange, a pair of spaced adjustable connections connecting said verticalflange and said supporting bar by means of which the distance betweensaid vertical flange and said supporting bar may be adjusted, meansadjoining one end of said supporting bar for pivotally supporting thebar about a substantially horizontal axis, whereby said guide body maybe adjusted relative to said supporting bar.

2. The construction described in claim 1 and including means connectedto said guide body and spaced from said means for pivotally supportingsaid supporting bar for adjusting the elevation of said guide body.

3. The construction described in claim 2 and including a spring bladeconnected to said vertical flange and extending inwardly in thedirection of said horizontal flange for engagement with the side edgesof sheets extending over said horizontal flange on the conveyor belt.

4. The construction of claim 2 and in which said means for adjusting theelevation of said guide body comprises a rotatable eccentric and meansfor holding said eccentric in adjusted position extending beneath thelevel of said horizontal flange. I

5. A sheet side guide register for sheet feeders hav ing a feed tableincluding a series of substantially parallel conveyor belts and a pivotrod extending transversely of said conveyor belts and above the levelthereof, the register including a supporting bar, a bracket on said barnear one end thereof pivotally engaging said transverse rod for pivotalmovement about and slidable movement along a generally horizontal axisprovided by said rod, means associated with said bracket in a preferredposition on said rod, an angular guide body including a substantiallyhorizontal flange and a substantially vertical flange connected to anedge of said horizontal flange and extending upwardly therefrom, a pairof studs extending in parallel relation from said vertical flange andhaving their axes substantially normal thereto, said studs extendingthrough said supporting bar, means on said studs adjustable for varyingthe distance between said vertical flange and said supporting bar, saidhorizontal flange being adapted to extend beneath one of the conveyorbelts, and a leaf spring connected to said vertical flange and extendinginwardly therefrom in the direction of said horizontal flange, saidspring being engageable with the edges of sheets extending along saidvertical flange.

6. The construction described in claim 5 and in which said verticalflange is provided with an aperture therethrough through which said leafspring extends.

7. The construction described in claim 5 and including springsencircling said studs and normally urging said vertical flange away fromsaid supporting bar, and in which said adjusting means includes nuts onthe ends of said studs and engageable against said supporting bar todraw said vertical flange toward said supporting bar.

8. The construction described in claim 5 and including means on saidguide body at a point longitudinally spaced from said bracket on saidsupporting bar engageable against the feed table for adjustment of theelevation of said guide body.

9. A paper sheet guide for use on press feeders including a feed tableincluding a plurality of substantially parallel conveyor belts movablethereover, the guide means including a pair of angular guide bodiesarranged in opposed relation, each guide body having an inward- 1ydirected substantially horizontal flange and a vertical flange connectedto the outer edge thereof, a pair of studs projecting outwardly fromeach of said vertical flanges, a supporting bar extending generallyparallel to each said vertical flange and through which said studsextend, springs encircling said studs between said vertical flanges andsaid supporting bars, the horizontal flanges of both said guides beingdesigned to underlie a conveyor belt, means on one said supporting barat the end thereof forming the trailing edge of said guide device in thedirection of movement of said conveyor belt for pivotally connectingsaid one supporting bar on a substantially horizontal transverse axis,and means on the other supporting bar at the leading edge of said otherguide device pivotally supporting said other guide device about atransverse horizontal axis. 10. The structure described in claim 9 andincluding a leaf spring secured to the vertical flange of said one guidedevice and extending inwardly of said vertical flange toward the otherguide device engageable with the edges of sheets being guided by thevertical flange of said one guide device.

11. The construction described in claim 9 and includ ing means at theleading edge of said one guide device engageable with the feed table foradjusting the elevation thereof.

12. The construction described in claim 9 and in which thestuds of eachof said vertical flanges being equally spaced, the supporting bar of oneguide device being in terchangeable with the supporting bar of the otherguide device. 7 r

' 13. The construction described in claim 5 and in which said horizontalflange is provided with an aperture therethrough adjoining said verticalflange through which underlying portions of the feed table may be seen.v 14. The construction described in claim 9 and including web feetdevices overlying certain of said feed belts, eachwveb foot including abottom portion having upwardly curved leading and trailing edgesrelative to the 7 References Cited in the file of this patent V UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 1,120,983 Sigafoos Dec. 15,1914 2,387,954 Thompson Oct.30 1945 2,669,454 Babicz ..L ....Q. Feb. 16, 1954 2,699,940 Huck et al.Jan. 18,1955

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